TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Aug 19, 2025

On Aug. 15, Hamilton County lawyer Steven Michael Hodgen was suspended from the practice of law for six years, with five years to be serve on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned probation on the appointment of a practice monitor. The action was taken after the court found that Hodgen indicated in court pleadings that he represented a party he had never spoken with, prejudiced the rights of a third party, and failed to reasonably communicate with the client, act in a diligent manner, expedite the client’s litigation, timely respond to dispositive motions, and discuss the case and filings with the complainant. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4(d) and 8.4(a), (c), and (d).